Rise of the Eromancer

Chapter 74 A Silent Chaos

Once again, Rhys found himself trapped in a world that seemed to be confining him in a small space becoming even smaller. He had thought that after everything that had happened to him in the Underworld Corps…

…after all the deaths, after all the trials he had faced, seeing his sister again would not faze him at all.

And yet, right now, as he watched her very slowly move closer, he felt himself shrinking with the world, still completely tethered to her. And now, seeing her walking side by side with the person who murdered their mother with a laughing smile on her face, the broken reflection he had always seen himself as returned.

And as he saw her casually holding Sylas's shoulder so dearly and softly, the mirror just broke and there was nothing else to see of him.

'Why? Why would you cling to the man who brutally murdered our mother?'

'Why do you carry a smile that I haven't even seen before? Why would you hold the arm of the man who violated you? Why are you so happy?'

Those were the thoughts currently repeating in Rhys's mind over and over again. And as his sister and Sylas got closer and closer, Rhys's fist started to tremble in a violent anger; enough that it caused a whirring sound to echo throughout the entire corridor, causing the other people to wonder what it was.

He could just snap Sylas's neck here, and his revenge would be completed. He could do all sorts of things to him and no one within a hundred miles could do anything — his revenge would be completed just like that.

And yet, as the two passed by him, he just subtly moved to the wall and sat on the floor, making sure that the two would not be able to spot him. He may be able to complete his revenge, but it will not be fulfilled, no.

He had already planned what to do with Sylas West…

…Killing him will never be enough.

"What do you think your level will be?"

And there, he heard her sister speaking in a sweet and high-pitched tone for the very first time, like she was undoubtedly and truly happy… he had never seen her like this before. But then again… the first time he had actually seen her sister again was when he went to her school half a year ago.

"What else? Level 10, of course."

As soon as he heard Sylas's words, however, any sort of emotions he was feeling for his sister completely faded away. Sylas's voice was like a grinder being pushed through his brain,

"Level 10?" Emilia let out a tiny chuckle, "Are you saying you're going to be in the Top 15 as soon as you register?"

"Well, yeah," Sylas just shrugged, completely believing himself, "I'm a Noble, Emi… It should be the standard."

"What about me? What Level do you think I would get?"

"What level are you now?"

"L…level 1."

"Hm… I've seen you in the Underworld, I think you're going to rank up to at least 3."

"You really think so!? If I do, I would treat you to…"

And as their voices faded, Rhys could really only hold his breath — as not doing so would probably cause him to scream there and then. Emilia and Sylas probably already left, as they were allowed to go first and he hasn't really seen any sign of them anymore. And after a few moments, he finally calmed himself down as he was getting closer and closer to the door.

[120 to 130, please enter the Physical.]

And as his number was called, Rhys made sure that his hand was no longer in a fist and that it was completely relaxed. And there, similar to what he saw in the Explorer Academy, was a metallic skeletal machine that was capable of shifting to a different shape depending on its settings.

[The test is simple.]

Rhys and the other examinees all raised their heads as they looked at the view deck above the testing hall, only to see several people there watching them — one of them being the owner of the voice.

"What the… isn't that the guild master of the Laughing Bronze?"

"...Who?"

"Kenneth, bro. One of the top 10 guilds in Amerka."

"...I'm just here to earn money, bro."

"Well, the guy has a lot of money — anyone affiliated from a private guild can't be in here unless they paid in gold."

"Wait, you think they're here to get someone for their guild?"

"What else, you stupid fuck."

And as the other trainees started to talk, Rhys could really only look at the panel of judges — and as expected, they were also staring at him; the look on their faces filled with confusion.

"Is that tall guy a Lowborn?" Kenneth asked one of his fellow judges.

"I… think so, let me check," one of the other judges started flipping his files until he saw Rhys's, "Rhys Wilder. He's… is this true? He's a Staff Sergeant of the Underworld Corps? A Lowborn?"

"The… Underworld Corps?" Kenneth pushed his long green hair to the side and tucked it between his ear as he reviewed Rhys's file, "Isn't that a sub-branch of the Surface Army?"

"It is and… wait, it's his turn now."

And as soon as one of the judges said that, Kenneth and the others all focused their attention on the training hall; watching as Rhys stood close to the metallic android.

[Number 120, do you have any experience in fighting monsters?]

"Yes," Rhys nodded his head as he looked at the machine in front of him.

[We will have you fight a bipedal monster, the trial will start in 30 seconds.]

"..." Rhys once again nodded as he saw the machine's 'eyes' lighting up. He could not concentrate, however, as he kept remembering his sister and Sylas walking so close to each other.

[10 seconds, 120.]

And as the machine started to move, Rhys's eyes started to twitch as his hand once again turned into a fist. And without even realizing it…

[5 seconds, 120.]

…He let out a subtle groan and rushed straight toward the machine. His fist…

…loaded with rage.